Manuel feels UConn in middle ground financially with power conferences (K. Duffy)

[Dooley]

I've felt this way for a long while, but my opinion is that UCONN will be in the B1G before the end of the decade. Everything that UCONN is doing points to a 3-5 year plan: improve football to eventually get to the point where the Rent can expand (or discussions can take place for an on-campus stadium), raise research profile for AAU criteria, increase endowment, renovate basketball venues (XL and Gampel), complete basketball facility, restore MBB program post-APR, and aggressively brand/re-brand "UCONN". It's up to us to continue to support all of UCONN's athletic programs and be patient (as best we can) until we're tapped.

 

[Sea Goat]

Warde Manuel: What, me worry?

Jacobs knows the AAC is eventually going to be the death knell for big time D-1 sports at UConn. But Manuel is stuck. He has to sing the party tune although it insults even those with pedestrian intelligence. It is tedious to listen to his BS babel on the AAC, but he has no option unless he wants to just STFU.

 

[noeynox]

Samcro, hope your right, though most of what you wrote is part of running a major university, it is somewhat enckuraging

 

[OkaForPrez]

The question is, what are other AAC leaders saying? Is Warde giving the conference party line or otherwise?

 

[AZHuskiePop]

I wondered if anyone else caught that. Did you also hear Bilas and Jalen Rose's answers? Bilas indicated that the travel was going to hurt UCONN and pointed at the team being in Texas for two games, then Memphis, then back in CT a few days later for Louisville. Jalen Rose was much more emphatic when he said that UCONN was screwed in CR. I also appreciated a few mentions that Gampel is one of the best venues for college basketball and opinion was that UCONN should play all home games there. I agree.

Their schedule has been ridicules since the break.
After Stamford
Flew 3000 miles to Washington for 1 game
Then home for E Washington
Then down to Texas for a week 1500
Back home for UCF
Down to Memphis Thursday 1000
Back to Connecticut saturday
That's NBA travel

 

[Marty Jackson]

what happens first: WM leaves Uconn for a P5 job or Uconn becomes a P5 school?

 

[Fishy]

You'd have to guess Warde leaves first...far easier for an AD to move than an entire U.

 

[bobbyinaz]

You'd have to guess Warde leaves first...far easier for an AD to move than an entire U.

I would agree that Warde gets out 1st.

While I agreed with using the search firm (please lets not start the 20 page argument again), part of using that firm was Warde keeping himself very close to Parker who is the biggest of the collegiate athletics firms.

I would not be shocked to hear his name linked to any upcoming searches that Parker is involved in

 

[NickyNewark]

I agree with Dooley that UConn has already been quietly given a timeframe by the B1G for "CFB improvements/AAU /stadium exp etc." ala RU awhile back and are feverishly pushing ahead of schedule to satisfy the requirement's before (next TV contract?) making a public announcement while under a veil/oath of secrecy.The flank between NYC to the Maine border is just too valuable for them(B1G) to allow leaving open to the ACC(can't believe their that naive) when they come to their sense's. It just seems so obvious? Maybe BC's lack of value/buzz has them concerned with NE CFB?

 

[bobbyinaz]

I agree with Dooley that UConn has already been quietly given a timeframe by the B1G for "CFB improvements/AAU /stadium exp etc." ala RU awhile back and are feverishly pushing ahead of schedule to satisfy the requirement's before (next TV contract?) making a public announcement under an oath of secrecy.The flank between NYC to the Maine border is just too valuable for them(B1G) to allow leaving open to the ACC(can't believe their that naive) when they come to their sense's. It just seems so obvious? Maybe BC's lack of value/buzz has them concerned with NE CFB?

Unless Susan was told to find 9 million households that they can market the B1G Network to I believe that this continues to be a pie in the sky dream for us.

The reality is that she is doing what she should be doing regardless of whether she is chasing the B1G or not. Unfortunately, previous leadership did none of this in the past & that certainly hurt us thru this round of CR.

Unless someone finds a way out of the GOR we have no partner to move anywhere with. The ACC is not making any changes unless ND joins which isn't happening. The B1G could've had Mizzou multiple times over the last 5 years & passed each time & there is no chance of them going to 15 and waiting for #16.

Lets win the AAC, go to a "BCS" bowl a couple times & hope that we can survive on limited dollars

 

[SubbaBub]

Unless Susan was told to find 9 million households that they can market the B1G Network to I believe that this continues to be a pie in the sky dream for us.

The reality is that she is doing what she should be doing regardless of whether she is chasing the B1G or not. Unfortunately, previous leadership did none of this in the past & that certainly hurt us thru this round of CR.

Unless someone finds a way out of the GOR we have no partner to move anywhere with. The ACC is not making any changes unless ND joins which isn't happening. The B1G could've had Mizzou multiple times over the last 5 years & passed each time & there is no chance of them going to 15 and waiting for #16.

Lets win the AAC, go to a "BCS" bowl a couple times & hope that we can survive on limited dollars

{Sigh} 1M HH x $2/mo x 12 = $24M/yr to the BTN.

That's not counting added value from NYC eastern, NYS, western MA, Springfield or the rest of New England.

Football stadium, timing, AAU, and a partner are what is keeping us out. Our.market is one our strengths.

If anyone thinks $2/mo for BTN is out of line take a look at what SNY gets.

 

[storrsroars]

My question is what happens to schools like Wake, Syracuse, Pitt among others who have voted against this from the begining...

Are you suggesting that because Pitt and Syracuse voted one way that they're honestly committed to that direction?

Have you not learned anything these past two years?

 

[bobbyinaz]

{Sigh} 1M HH x $2/mo x 12 = $24M/yr to the BTN.

That's not counting added value from NYC eastern, NYS, western MA, Springfield or the rest of New England.

Football stadium, timing, AAU, and a partner are what is keeping us out. Our.market is one our strengths.

If anyone thinks $2/mo for BTN is out of line take a look at what SNY gets.

The B1G is predicting paying out $40MM per school when they sign their new deal. Your $24MM plus the rest of the markets you mention don't even pay for ourselves let alone contribute to the conference.

Our market is not a strength. Our academic & athletic accomplishments and profile is what will be our strength when the time comes

 

[UCFBfan]

What is WM supposed to say? We're screwed? How long would he keep his job?

I'm not criticizing Warde here at all. Sorry if that was how it was taken. I was just stating that while Warde is saying what he needs to say, I, as a fan, am scared even more $hitless after reading that article. I really wanna hope that Warde and Susan have something all planned and we'll be fine but years of UConn being crapped on has made me very skeptical.

 

[UCFBfan]

I would not be shocked to hear his name linked to any upcoming searches that Parker is involved in

Honest question, what has Warde done to deserve a look from a higher up school? Until Diaco shows what he can do as HC for football and Ollie shows that he can keep this program on the rise, I haven't seen Warde do a single thing that's a positive reflection of him. He's made two major hires and one smaller one in hockey. He also got outmanuevered by Louisville for the spot in the ACC. So far we haven't seen enough evidence to judge him so I find it hard to see why he'd deserve a look from a P5 school.

 

[uconnfan68]

He doesn't have to say it. We all know it. Our only hope is that he and the braintrust are concocting some sort of plan that doesn't involve, sitting, hoping and wishing. I have no answers. He is paid to have some.

And I agree 100%. I think his support for KO (however late it was, its there now), his hockey hire and football hire were good-to-great catches. Very positive for us. I also think Herbst has been outstanding also. I just don't expect to get a fair shake out of this BS.

 

[Point6]

I think we will be in the ACC by next Friday.

The P5 wants to be their own football division and they do not want the AAC to come along. For many reasons, UConn will be the hardest school in the AAC for the P5 to exclude. The ACC has demonstrated that it will expand to kill off a potential competitor. The AAC, although currently weak, would most directly compare/compete with the ACC if it were included in the highest division of college football. Grabbing UConn out of the AAC will hurt the AAC's case for big boy football inclusion. Now that the writing is on the wall regarding P5 autonomy, I think the ACC makes the first move because it has (1) more to lose if the AAC is included in the highest football division and (2) more to lose if it lets the B1G add to its East Coast/NY presence. I would expect an announcement no later than January 31 at 2:00 PM.

 

[UPitt]

My question is what happens to schools like Wake, Syracuse, Pitt among others who have voted against this from the begining

Pitt and Cuse will have join the a conference that opposes the stipend, such as the B1G.

Honestly, I know publically Pitt has said they do not favor the idea of paying athletes, but they will pay the stipend if it is approved. The cost of paying athletes a stipend is minimal compared to the total cost of running an athletic department and pennies compared to the total cost/revenue a University works with each year. I have a few friends in the athletic department at Pitt, and the concern is that the athletes will become less of students and more of employees. This year the athletes may receive $2000 - $5000. What if that number becomes $10000 or $25000+. Soon, these athletes are playing for the money and many will have less interest in the education. With only a small fraction moving on to play professionally, could the NCAA/Schools be doing more harm than good. I think the overall concern is that this could snowball into something much bigger than anyone is picturing today.

As for Wake, I thought they had a leader at the round table creating these new rules. Do they not support the rules they helped to create?

 

[Fishy]

Wake basically has the head seat at the table - their prez is the DI Board Chair.

I think this power move actually makes more sense for the Wakes and Pitts of the world than it does Bama and USC.

The gap between Alabama or Florida State and Wake Forest is far, far greater than the gap, if there is one, between Wake and East Carolina. East Carolina beat UNC and NC State badly and were clearly the best team in North Carolina this year....

This move is about putting air between Wake Forest/Pitt/Syracuse and East Carolina/Temple/UConn or whoever.

 

[CL82]

The B1G is predicting paying out $40MM per school when they sign their new deal. Your $24MM plus the rest of the markets you mention don't even pay for ourselves let alone contribute to the conference.

Our market is not a strength. Our academic & athletic accomplishments and profile is what will be our strength when the time comes

Plus a second NYC/NE area game. If teams like heading to the East Coast once every other year, they might be more open to another team.

 

[upstater]

I've felt this way for a long while, but my opinion is that UCONN will be in the B1G before the end of the decade. Everything that UCONN is doing points to a 3-5 year plan: improve football to eventually get to the point where the Rent can expand (or discussions can take place for an on-campus stadium), raise research profile for AAU criteria, increase endowment, renovate basketball venues (XL and Gampel), complete basketball facility, restore MBB program post-APR, and aggressively brand/re-brand "UCONN". It's up to us to continue to support all of UCONN's athletic programs and be patient (as best we can) until we're tapped.

Wow, I agree that UConn is gearing for the B1G, but none of the reasons you listed seems like an attempt to shoehorn itself into the B1G. It's just typical stuff you'd expect of UConn at this point.

But one thing does convince me they are ramping up for the B1g: Hockey. I can't understand why they are investing all this money ina sport now that they are in revenue hell. Mind-boggling. Unless....

 

[upstater]

"I think I would be much more concerned about this is if I was UConn." Harrison

We know you have no real concerns about UConn or you wouldn't've shivved UConn badly when you had the chance.

 

[frankthetank]

Pitt and Cuse will have join the a conference that opposes the stipend, such as the B1G.

Honestly, I know publically Pitt has said they do not favor the idea of paying athletes, but they will pay the stipend if it is approved. The cost of paying athletes a stipend is minimal compared to the total cost of running an athletic department and pennies compared to the total cost/revenue a University works with each year. I have a few friends in the athletic department at Pitt, and the concern is that the athletes will become less of students and more of employees. This year the athletes may receive $2000 - $5000. What if that number becomes $10000 or $25000+. Soon, these athletes are playing for the money and many will have less interest in the education. With only a small fraction moving on to play professionally, could the NCAA/Schools be doing more harm than good. I think the overall concern is that this could snowball into something much bigger than anyone is picturing today.

As for Wake, I thought they had a leader at the round table creating these new rules. Do they not support the rules they helped to create?

Not sure if you're joking or not, but the Big Ten is absolutely 100% in favor of the stipend. You might be conflating that issue with some quotes where Jim Delany has stated that they will never agree to "pay" athletes (which is something that all commissioners will state on-the-record), but he has stated many times that they want the full cost of attendance instituted and the fact that the rest of Division I rejected it is why he and the other P5 leaders started this whole talk of Division 4 and "autonomy". Make no mistake about it - the B1G will pay the top-of-the-market for any stipend without question.

You're correct about Wake, though. Their president is the head of the board that actually drafted this proposal and his name is the first name on the front page. There's no way that Wake doesn't support everything in that proposal. The only P5 complaint would be that it doesn't go far enough.

 

[Dooley]

Wow, I agree that UConn is gearing for the B1G, but none of the reasons you listed seems like an attempt to shoehorn itself into the B1G. It's just typical stuff you'd expect of UConn at this point.

But one thing does convince me they are ramping up for the B1g: Hockey. I can't understand why they are investing all this money ina sport now that they are in revenue hell. Mind-boggling. Unless....

Forgot about hockey. You're right. I see this as another step in increasing UCONN's B1G profile. I think the AAU and focus on expanding research are also B1G related. The other items I listed are all things that UCONN should be doing regardless of conference affiliation.

 

[zls44]

"I think I would be much more concerned about this is if I was UConn." Harrison

We know you have no real concerns about UConn or you wouldn't've shivved UConn badly when you had the chance.

I was an arm's-length away from WH today. Was really tough not to yell at him.